Shorter stays provide relaxation and a sense of well-being; however, they do not have the effect of profound purification found in a comprehensive Panchakarma programme.

For which types of illness is Panchakarma recommended?

Generally for all chronic physiological and psychological diseases and symptoms of burnout; also for general prevention of illnesses. For more information click here

Are there illnesses where Panchakarma is not recommended?

Ayurvedic purification and detoxification treatment is not recommended in cases of acute illness or acute chronic inflammation. In addition, it is not recommended for debilitated individuals and pregnant women, although single treatments can be useful in such circumstances. It is, however, recommended to schedule an outpatient consultation with one of our doctors who will be able to suggest specific Maharishi Ayurveda herbal supplements to improve the state of health. Following that, a Panchakarma treatment can be considered.

Can I trust Ayurveda products?

I read that some Ayurveda products can contain dangerous substances. Are you using such products?

Independent labs in India as well as in Europe test Maharishi Ayurveda products regularly for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic), microbiology (bacteria, yeast, mould, salmonella), pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) and aflatoxin. The testing is carried out according to the most recent European standards and you may inquire about laboratory analysis results.

An article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared the heavy metal content in Ayurvedic products of different manufacturers. We would like to point out that no product of Maharishi Ayurveda products contained heavy metals above the permitted values in Europe (small amounts of heavy metals are normal in herbal products due to a natural heavy metal content in the soil, which is harmless).

All of our original Ayurvedic products imported from India are acquired from Maharishi Ayurveda Products India (MAP-India). This guarantees us consistently high quality. The production of these products is done according to strict norms and pairing complex manufacturing processes with the most ancient traditions.

MAP India has the most up-to-date manufacturing facilities and meets the highest international quality standards, such as ISO 9001:2000, ISO/IEC 17025:1999 (GLP), HACCP, WHO-GMP, IMO as well as BDIH. MAP India, one of the very few Ayurveda manufacturers in India, implemented these control systems in their manufacturing process in order to deliver the highest quality products.

The research and development centre of our manufacturer in India is officially recognised by the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology. The “All India Ayurvedic Congress”, the largest professional association of Ayurveda in India with more than 300.000 ayurvedic scholars as members, certified Maharishi Ayurveda with the highest authenticity.

The Indian health ministry has developed a concept for strategic promotion and recognition of Ayurveda (Golden Triangle Partnership GTP). A committee of experts visited six companies that were selected from a large sampling of available providers. Maharishi Ayurveda Products India, our main producer, was one of them.

Right from the start of harvesting the plants, Maharishi Ayurveda Products ensures high quality of the produce and the manufacturing processes are subject to strict inspections.

Where is Bad Ems?

Bad Ems is situated on the Lahn River in the nature reserve of Nassau, about 13 miles east of Koblenz. It takes about 1 hour by car to get here from the Frankfurt/Main and Cologne/Bonn airports. The nearest Intercity railway stations are Koblenz and Montabaur, which are about 20 minutes away.

Is treatment covered by health insurance?

Please go to the “Financing” page where you will find the answer to this question.

How far in advance should reservations be made?

Usually a few weeks notice is sufficient for Panchakarma treatments and outpatient doctor’s consultations. Availability of hotel rooms and clinic space permitting, last-minute bookings may be possible. Popular times for Panchakarma are the main holidays seasons (Easter, autumn and Christmas). Make sure to make your reservations for these periods of time well in advance.

What can be done at home to prepare for treatment?

If you would like to increase the effects of your Panchakarma treatment, it is beneficial to have only vegetarian and light dishes a few days prior to arrival. Maybe only soup for dinner in order to get the detoxification process started. In between meals, every 30 minutes you may drink hot water that has been boiled for about 10 minutes in the morning and kept warm in a thermos.

If you suffer from severe illness and if you live close to Bad Ems, an outpatient consultation with one of our doctors is recommended a few weeks prior to your Panchakarma programme.

What kinds of meals are served during a treatment?

The menu offered to all guests contains a great variety of easy-to-digest vegetarian dishes. We offer tasty, Ayurvedic meals made from freshly prepared, mainly organic ingredients. You will be served three meals a day, as well as hot water and Ayurvedic teas.

There are different phases of treatment during a complete Panchakarma programme and it includes a thorough detoxification and cleansing of the intestines. Your Ayurvedic doctor will tailor your dietary needs accordingly during your initial appointment.

Will I lose weight during treatment?

Generally those who are overweight will lose weight during a Panchakarma treatment of ten days or more. This effect can be increased by a specially prescribed diet by the Ayurvedic doctor.

People of normal weight usually lose a little weight as a side effect of Panchakarma.

For those who are underweight and those not wanting to lose weight, the treatment plan and diet can be adjusted to ensure that their weight remains the same.

What is the difference between Panchakarma in Germany and India or Sri Lanka, the countries where Panchakarma originated?

The treatments of Maharishi Panchakarma have been standardised to a very high quality level under direct guidance of the highly regarded Vaidyas (Indian Ayurveda physicians). In the countries of origin there are good facilities, but there are also many that offer only superficial “tourist-Ayurveda”.

The follow-up service for chronic illnesses is almost impossible from India or Sri Lanka.

Hundreds of different Maharishi Ayurveda herbal preparations are available in Europe for almost all types of illness. They are not only prepared according to the authentic and time-tested ancient recipes, but they are also certified according to the strict requirements of the HHCCP and the BDIH as well as DIN ISO 9001 standards. European food laboratories assure with their testing that the herbal supplements are free from harmful substances.

The standards of hygiene at our facility and the safety it assures for your health will be difficult to find in India or Sri Lanka.

One other consideration: According to the medical recommendations and to gain the full benefit of Panchakarma treatment, long travel over many time zones and climatic changes are not recommended right after undergoing Panchakarma. The Vata disturbances caused by the travel will diminish the benefits. This is because a thoroughly purified physiology requires a certain amount of time to adjust to the newly gained level of metabolism (post Panchakarma treatment with a lighter diet and additional rest).

Why do other facilities offer slightly cheaper pricing?

Panchakarma treatment is very labour intensive, especially when it is carried out in an authentic way to achieve the best possible results. Naturally, employment and other costs are much higher in Germany than in India or Sri Lanka.

Nevertheless, at our facility we are able to offer a very good value for the price.

The Panchakarma treatments at our facility are carried out according to the high quality standards of Maharishi Ayurveda.

As a basic principle, the massages are carried out by two therapists, which increases the medicinal effects of the treatments greatly.

The herbal oils used are prepared in our own kitchen according to the ancient authentic procedure using herbs from India to ensure the full effectiveness of all oil treatments.

The enemas are prepared and cooked (sterilized) daily for each patient according to ancient classical recipes.

We offer spacious treatment rooms and resting areas, as well as seminar rooms and guest lounges. A room for music therapy, yoga and meditation is provided to ensure that you experience the full benefit of your treatment with additional Maharishi Ayurveda programmes and services.

We offer comprehensive guest service and a variety of lectures and information, so you may integrate many of our Ayurvedic tips in daily life at home.

We offer on-call service of additional doctors throughout the day and at night, on holidays and weekends.

Full board service includes table service for lunch and dinner, and the meals are prepared according to the phase of treatment.

Can you help with negotiations for reimbursement from health insurance companies?

In order to demonstrate to your health insurer the benefits of an Ayurveda treatment, one must have documentation. For this reason, we have prepared about 20 publications about Ayurveda from medical journals that can be used for discussions and presentations to health insurers, medical professionals and for your own doctor. Most of these articles include research studies on the benefits of Ayurvedic treatment.
According to the German law on advertising in the health care sector, we are unfortunately not allowed to provide our scientific research on the diagnosis and treatment of illness to our patients. However, this law allows us to provide these materials to medical doctors or Naturopaths, pharmacists and medical professionals.

For a minimal charge of 15.00 € (US $25), payable in advance, we will send this documentation to your doctor, pharmacist or a representative of your health insurance company.

Additionally, individuals who are medical experts may access these materials at our password-protected area on our website. Registration will be required in order to gain access.

Lastly, for a minimal charge of 7.50 € (US $12), we can send you copies of relevant court cases that have been decided in favour of our clients. In individual cases, these materials have been an aid in reimbursing costs for Ayurvedic treatments from health insurance companies.